125. Viticulture: Cultivating Connection, Ecosystem Health & Belonging / Antonio Graca

In Conversation with Nathalie Nahai

In today’s conversation, I speak with Antonio Graça - Head of Research and Development at Sogrape Vinhos SA, a family run vineyard and business founded on the principles of circularity, renovation and transformation.

Secretary for the Sustainable Development and Climate Change expert group of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (Paris), Antionio has an MSc. in Oenology, and leads masterclasses and lectures for young professionals at universities all around the world. As well as sitting on the Executive Committee of the Oenoviti International network, Antonio assisted Comité des Entreprises Européennes de Vin in the creation of the first European research agenda for the wine industry, which was published as a position paper in 2016.

He serves as expert by technical commissions of the Spanish Wine Federation, Association of Wines and Spirits of Portugal and Association of Port Wine Companies, and also sits as tasting judge for high-profile international wine competitions such as the International Wine Challenge (London) and Mundus Vini (Neustadt). From 2003 and 2014, Antonio served in the board of the Association for the Development of Douro Viticulture, and in 2009, he cofounded the Portuguese Association for Grapevine Diversity, and was on its Board of Directors until 2021.

Having published many scientific works over the course of his career, Antonio is currently focusing on agroecology, biodiversity, digital transition, climate change adaptation, resilience and system dynamics of the food and wine value chain. Beyond his professional interests, he is a humanist and a firm believer in the founding principles of the European Union, and he uses his free time to raise awareness to the fundamental role played by wine in civilisations and to the ethnic and cultural heritage of Portuguese explorations still surviving around the world.

I first met Antonio at a very special gathering, hiking a short stretch of the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, and I was so struck by his presence, thoughtfulness and passion for the living world that I had to invite him onto the podcast. Our conversation explores a whole array of intertwining themes and ideas, and I hope that our exploration inspires you to reconnect more deeply into the food, the place and the biodiversity of where you live.

WEBSITE

https://sogrape.com/

BOOKS

Thinking in Systems – Donella Meadows: https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/thinking-in-systems/